Incident Overview
On June 1, 2015, about 1730 central daylight time, a Beech A23-24 (registration N29JR) was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a field near Grove Hill, Alabama. The aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Jack Edward Airport (JKA), Gulf Shores, Alabama. The flight originated from Demopolis Regional Airport (DYA), Demopolis, Alabama, about 1715.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported stopping at DYA to add 30 gallons of fuel. Approximately 15 minutes after departure, while cruising at 3,500 feet, the engine lost all power. He performed emergency procedures in an attempt to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He then selected a field for an emergency landing due to utility wires surrounding adjacent roads. The pilot noted an airport he had recently flown over was behind him and he could not locate it, so he considered the field the best option. The touchdown was normal, but the rough terrain caused the nosegear to collapse before the airplane came to rest upright.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and found damage to an engine mount and the underside fuselage. The inspector noted that each wing fuel tank was approximately half-full. Fuel drained from the fuel sump showed no visible contamination. Due to the wreckage disposition, the inspector could not examine the engine.
Later, a recovery company lifted the airplane from the field. The recovery crew rotated the propeller and confirmed continuity to the rear accessory section of the engine, with the sound of the magneto impulse coupling activating. Thumb compression was attained on each cylinder. The engine was subsequently test-run at the recovery facility under NTSB supervision. Fuel was plumbed to the fuel pump, the battery was replaced, and the exhaust pipe was manually opened to correct impact damage. The engine started and ran continuously at settings between idle and 1,700 rpm, where a successful magneto check was performed. Due to vibration from impact damage, a high power setting was not attempted.